Pakistan and South Africa will play the fourth One Day International (ODI) at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Friday. The Proteas lead the series 2-1 after the win in the previous match.
Where to Watch Live:
The 4th ODI will begin at 04:30 pm IST on Friday and it will be telecast live on Ten Cricket and Ten HD in India, and on PTV Sports in Pakistan.
Overview:
It's a do-or-die game for Pakistan who have lost two of the three matches played, trailing the five-match series 2-1. They have to win on Friday to keep the series alive. They will also be keen to avenge the 68-run defeat in the previous march.
South Africa, on the other hand will try to wrap up the series early. The win in the previous match will boost their confidence.
Previous Meetings:
South Africa have 44-21 win-loss and one no result record against Pakistan in 66 ODIs played so far.
Team News:
South Africa will miss Graeme Smith, who will fly back home following bad health. AB de Villiers may field the same squad that won the previous match. Pakistan are also unlikely to change the squad despite poor performance of the top order.
Preview:
Ahmed Shehzad is the most consistent batsman in Pakistani squad, scoring 32 in the previous match after back-to-back half centuries. The top order collapsed again on Wednesday, and they would have been bowled out for a very small score if not for braving performance from bowlers Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz. Batsmen need to perform with their bats in the crucial match if they are to stay alive in the series.
Mohammad Irfan took three wickets in the 3rd ODI, while Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal took two wickets apiece. They need to take wickets early and restrict the score of the opponents.
Like Pakistan, batting inconsistency is the biggest problem for South Africa this series. JP Duminy and F du Plessis scored half centuries each in the previous match, while other batsmen like AB de Villiers, Q de Kock and David Miller contributed to the total. Hashim Amla, who joined the team after missing the first two matches, didn't score big in the previous match but he may bounce back any time.
Imran Tahir took three wickets, while Morne Morkel and Ryan McLaren took two wickets each in the 3rd ODI. They bowled out Pakistan for just 191 runs, and they will be expected to give a similar show on Friday.
Prediction:
South Africa are the favourites to win.
Squads:
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain) Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Sohaib Maqsood, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed
South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
